Gerry Cooney, Heavyweight May 4, 1981

As gentleman Gerry Cooney strolled down crowded Mulberry Streetin New York City's Little Italy during last month's Feast of SanGennaro, he shook numerous hands, signed the memo books of twoNYPD officers and posed for photographs with revelers. ThenCooney was given an unsolicited raffle prize--a $200 dinner fromDa Nico Ristorante--for FIST (Fighters' Initiative for Supportand Training), his foundation that provides job training and, insome instances, financial help to retired boxers. "There comes atime when a boxer has to hang up the gloves," Cooney said, "butthey don't know how to replace the roar of the crowd."

A promenade among his fans wasn't in Cooney's plans when he cameto Little Italy from his home in suburban Fanwood, N.J. He was inthe neighborhood to pick up a sculpture valued at $50,000--TheDiscus Thrower by DeWeldon--from Chuck Huller, co-owner of theBenedetti Gallery, who was donating the piece for an Oct. 5 FISTfund-raising auction. "I should hang out here more often," Cooneysaid, puffing on a cigar. "It's nice that people can stillremember you."

What people remember most about Cooney is his 1982 loss, a13th-round TKO, to heavyweight champion Larry Holmes and histeary postfight remark to fans, "I'm sorry I let you down."Cooney, who earned $10 million for the Holmes fight, had a 28-3-0record with 24 knockouts before retiring in '90. Having savedsome of his boxing millions--he had two managers who "watched eachother," he says--Cooney wanted to assist fallen pugilists, andwith the help of his wife, Jennifer, a small-business appraiser,and friends Joe Sano and Norman Weiss, he founded FIST in '98. Todate the foundation has aided 32 boxers. "We help the fighterhelp himself," says Weiss. Cooney himself admits to having had adrinking problem during his boxing career but says he's beenclean since April 21, 1988, when he awoke and thought, What'sgoing on?

Gerry, 44, and Jennifer have a 2 1/2-year-old son, Jackson (Gerryhas an 11-year-old son, Christopher, from a previousrelationship). Cooney keeps busy helping raise money for 25charities, Make-A-Wish and the American Heart Association amongthem. "I've learned to laugh at life," he says, which isimportant to a man who has taken many punches--in the ring andotherwise. "I regret not developing my potential," he says, "butI'm proud of my fight with Holmes." As another admirer clicked aphotograph, Cooney joked, "Wait, I wasn't ready," and the crowdroared.